Saskatchewan budget paves a smooth road for trucking industry

REGINA — Ensuring Saskatchewan is ready for growth was the focus of the provincial budget handed down by Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer, which included record spending on highways.

It was the first budget of the Saskatchewan Party and although the government had the aid of a surplus in planning the budget, there were also campaign promises to live up to – one of which is sustainable growth for the province.

“Our $1 billion Ready for Growth Initiative is the largest infrastructure investment in the history of Saskatchewan and will help ensure we don’t repeat the mistakes of other jurisdictions,” says Gantefoer. “We want to manage our growth as we continue our economic momentum. We need safe roads to carry the wheels of the economy and transport the important goods we send to markets around the globe.”

The $1 billion Ready for Growth Initiative provides will boost transportation spending to $513 million – the largest transportation budget in Saskatchewan’s history. The Highways and Infrastructure budget – equivalent to nearly 140 percent of on-road fuel tax revenues – represents a 15 percent increase from last year.

“Enabling Saskatchewan people, and goods, to move easily and safely throughout the province is vital. In this budget, we are ensuring the province is ready for growth, by making numerous, significant commitments to building and repairing our roads and highways,” says Highways and Infrastructure Minister Wayne Elhard. “We have made a commitment to address this province’s infrastructure deficiency.”

New capital for construction will be allocated $137.5 million, which will include funding to upgrade TMS highways and expand access to Primary Weights on rural highways; and continued twinning of Highway 11 between Saskatoon and Prince Albert and completion of twinning of Highways 1 and 16.

The budget is also committing $202.6 million to maintain, repair and resurface provincial highways; $19.4 million, including $10.5 million in new funding, to replace and rehabilitate aging bridges and culverts; and $5 million to help rural municipalities improve municipal roads affected by truck haul traffic in heavy oil production.

Gantefoer noted Saskatchewan’s thriving economy has resulted in a $9.37 billion revenue forecast for 2008-2009 allowing government to invest in $8.57 billion in expenditures.

“At the same time as our economy has allowed us to fund these, and many more initiatives, we are mindful – always – of the bottom line and how we move forward,” Gantefoer explains. “This is our government’s first budget; it is a balanced budget that includes a $250 million debt reduction to better position Saskatchewan for future generations.”


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